Religion and Social Change – Neo-Marxism

GRAMSCI:

• “The ideas of the ruling class are… the ruling ideas.” (Marx, 1845).

• Dominant not only in economics, wealth and property, but in politics and culture as well.

• Gramsci called this combination ‘hegemony’.

• The poor experienced dual consciousness – they were aware of their oppression at work and their poverty, so subscribed to political ideas against the government. However, would support the government ideology if needed, e.g in war.

• Believed in relative autonomy.

  • This means the superstructures don’t take full control, some autonomy fools people into thinking the government aren’t acting as ‘big brother’ and so follow the ideas.

  • However, this also allows institutions to go against the structures and fight for the poor.

  • For example, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, put payday lenders such as Wonga out of business by setting up credit unions. He campaigned to reform and out-compete them.

MADURO:

• Took Gramsci’s ideas further.

• Religious ideas might actually promote social change and override ruling-class ideology.

• In totalitarian dictatorships all political protest is usually banned.

• Opposition parties and trade unions are often made illegal and street protests and demonstrations are often brutally put down by police and army. People are often arbitrarily arrested, tortured, imprisoned and executed. The only places people can gather safely are religious places.

• Also, some religious leaders are charismatic leaders, led by conscience. They may speak out against inequality and oppression in their sermons (through religious language and stories).

• Political leaders are often reluctant to arrest or kill religious leaders because they’re ‘sacred’. Their assassination would turn them into martyrs. They therefore may inspire mass uprising.

• For example, Martin Luther King used his education to articulate the experiences of himself and others and present what they wanted to happen in the future with the gain of civil rights and removal of segregation – laid out in his speech “I Have a Dream”. He organised peaceful protests (March on Washington, 1963) as head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Was considered a martyr after his assassination.